Suction cleaner



May 9, 1933.

H, Vs. DEMAREE SUCTION CLEANER Filed Feb. 5, 1930 Pafentecl May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE HARRY S. DEMAREE, 0F CHICGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 `TEE HOOVER COMPANY, Ol'

NORTH CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO suc'rioN Application led February The present inventiony relates the art of suction cleaners, and more particularly to positive agitating means used in suction cleaners.

The use of a rotatin agitating member in the nozzle of a suction c eaner which is adapted to clean surface coverings is well known. The agitator may be driven either by the driving motor which drives the fan to create the suction for the cleaner or it may be driven bythe supporting Wheels at the nozzle end lofthe machine. In the operation of a suction cleaner embodying a positiveagil which `no brush structure is provided.

tator the surface covering undergoing cleaning is lifted by suction against the lips of the nozzle and the rotating a itator contacts the uplifted covering there etween functioning to disturb and dislodge the embedded foreign matter within the covering so that the cleaning air rushing through the nozzle may remove it to the dirt separator which is connected to the cleaner. Rotating brushes have been used in the nozzle as a means of agitation and while such agitators serve to remove the oregin manner lodged near the top of the surface covering, the deeply embedded matter remains embedded, resulting` in inefficient cleaning. To effect the removal of the deeply embedded matter 4a distinct blow must be imparted to the surface covering and to etfectthis result agitators comprising rigid elements are used, in combination in many struction.

' The present invention is directed to that form of rotary agitator which-embodies sole-` ly positive or rigid agitting means and An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel agitator for suction cleaners. A further object is the provision of a simplified rotor construction for suction cleaners. A still further object is the provision, in a suction cleaner, of a simpliied agitator construction which is capable of being n n n -J Figure l discloses a view in perspective of Y cases, with the brush con- CLEANER a, ieso. serial No. 425,371.

a suction cleaner agitator, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

a modified form of the presentinvention.

Figure 3 is a cross section upon the line 31e-3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are sections of modified shapes of bodies which may be used in the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, an agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally by the reference character 1. The agitator comprises a hollow metallic body 2 having a 'cross section as shown in Figure 3. Body 2 is formed of drawn or rolled metal of sufficient thickness to provide the necessary strength and rigidity to prevent distortion when in use. Spaced projecting portions or protrusions, indicated by the reference character 3, 3, are formed in body 2 and comprise the vFigure 2 discloses a cross-sectionalview pf .Y

points in the body periphery at a maximum provided with an angular twist between its 4 longitudinal ends so that the projections 3, 3 describe helices therebetween. Positioned at the opposite ends of body 2 and retained therein in any suitable manner, as by welding, are end plates, as indicated by the reference character 4. At one of the ends of the agitator a cylindrical member, indicated by the reference character 5, which is provided with a circumferential groove 6, is carried by the end plate 4 and forms a pulley means of a belt. The pulley 5 may beformed as an integral part of the vplate 4' and both the plate and the pulley attached to one end of the agitator and secured in any suitable manner, as aforedescribed. The maximum radius of pulley 5 should be substantially less than the radial distance of projection 3 vfrom "the axiall centerf'of theagitator body so that lin the operation of the a itator the surfacey Vcovering will contact the eating projections and not the pulley.

In order that the agitator may be rotatwhichv the agitator may be rotated by' ably supportedwithin suitable bearings in the nozzle of the suction cleaner stub-shafts, lindicated by the reference characters 7, 7, are

provided at the opposite ends of the agitator body which. are seated in the end plates 4 andy i volved about its longitudinal axis, being supported upon the stub-shafts 7, 7. The driving power to rotate the agitator is provided by means of a suitable beltl connection between the driving motor of the suction cleaner and the pulley Y5. Upon being rotated the salient portions 3, 3 of the agitator contact the surface covering and,y upon the agitator being revolved at high speed, deliver impacts at high frequency tothe covering. The embedded foreign matter is dislodged by the successive impacts and its removal is accomplished by the cleaning air passing through I the nozzle in which the lagitator is located.

Referring now to Figure 2, in particular, .the cross-.sectional view through a modified body 4form susceptible of embodimentin the present invention is disclosed. An agitator, constructed in accordance with Figure 2, differs only from the one constructed in accordance with Figure 1 in the 'structural shape of the body member. The construction retains the characteristic of having certain portions 3, 3 which extend a maximum distance from the geometrical center and which are adapted to function as beating elements.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 disclose further structural shapes into which the body 2 may be formed by rolling orl drawing. Depending upon the type of surface covering upon which the cleaner embodying the agitator constructed in accordance with the presentV invention is to be ilsed a certain frequency of impaction is found most effective. With structural shapes embodyingl a. relatively large number of proj ections 3, 3 the frequency of the impacts im arted to the covering will be greater at a de tion. In surface coverings in which relatively low frequency of mpactlon is desirable those` structural shapes embodying av minimum number of beating projections 3, 3 ,would be l. An agitator for suction cleaners com-A prisin a twisted hollow shell characterized by a p urality of helically extending protrul sions, plates secured at the ends of said shell,

means adapted to receive a rotating torque forf;s'aid shell and means to rotatably supportffsaid shell and end plates.

l2. agitator for suction cleaners cornv'te speed of agitator rotasrising a body, end plates secured'to said ody andlmeans to receive a rotatin force,

characterized by the fact thatsaid b y comprises a twisted shell having a polygonal cross-section.

` 3. An agitator for a suction cleaner comprising an elongated body havin a plurality i ofsides, means to support` sai body, and means to receive a rotatlng force, characterized by the fact that the junctions of certain ,sides of said bodydene helically extending protruding portions at a maximum radial giatance from the longitudinal axis of the o I v 43A rotary 'tator `for a suction cleaner including a body formed of an elongated twisted shell, characterized byJ the fact that said body is a multilateral geometrical fig,-I ure in a plane at right angles.to thelongitudinal axis with no outwardly facingacute angles and with spaced integral portions at equal maximum radial distances from said longitudinal axis, and means to rotatably support said body.

5. A rotary a ltator for a suction cleanerA including a bo y formed of an elongated twisted shell, characterized by the fact that said body is a multilateral geometrical figure v in avcrossssectional plane at right an les to the longitudinal axis withy nooutward y facing acute angles and with spaced integral .portlons at maxlmum Iradial distances from the longitudinal axis and is bilaterally s mmetrical about an plane through the ongitudinal axis an means to rotatably support said bod 4 Si and nary, A. D. 1930. l.

HARRY' S. DEMAREE.

'ed at' Chicago, in the county of Cook tate of llllinois, this 29th day of J anlCE 

